Dan Russell – ‘The Wrestler’

Four-time NCAA Wrestling Champion

Dan Russell has an impressive athletic career: From being a four-time NCAA Wrestling Champion, ‘unofficial’ World Champion, to his career as Olympic Coach at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, Greece. Today, he is the senior pastor of Battle Ground Foursquare Church in Washington State and continues to coach professional athletes.

“Coming home from [the win], I walked in and set up all of my trophies on a shelf, and I began to cry. I had accomplished everything I had set out to do, and it was the emptiest, loneliest experience of my life. I recommitted my life to the Lord that night.” Even after his athletic success, Dan wrestled with the emptiness of his achievements.

It wasn’t until Dan pursued the real prize – Jesus Christ – that his life took a meaningful turn and he would touch the lives of many on a much greater scale than he could ever do on his own strength.